The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-13
MARY ANDERsoN,s GHOST STORY.
The Disagreeable Experiences of the Amer
can Actress in Lady Lytton's Home.


can Actress in Lady Lytton's Home.
Lucy Hooper. in Philadelphia Telegraph.
One Of the best authenticated of modern ghost
stories that have ever heard was told me lately
the heroine of the adventure, the fair and ia
nous American actress, Mary Anderson. At
one time during q former visit to England Miss
Anderson was invited to pay q visit to Lord and
Lady Lytton 1.-THE former best known Owen
MeredithD who were then at the ancestral seat
OF the Bulwsrs, the wellknown manor of Kneb.
worth The fair actress was great .favorite
with the host and hostess, and had more than
once before been their guest at their. historical
country home. certain apartment called the
been placed at her disposal On her
arrival this last occasion another
apartment was allotted to her. her usual quarters
having been taken by an earlier conner Her
new room was equally spacious and handsome,
though somewhat gloomy on account of the mas
sive antique furniture, while large picture of
Queen Elizabeth. evidently contemporary like
ness hung upon the wall. and by it's faded hues
and imperious aspect lent an impression OF
weird mystery to the surroundings. But these
ideas only occurred TO Mise Anderson after the
incident am about to relate. She found her
room, ON first entering it, very pleasant, and
every arrangement had been made for her COM
fort, her maid having been installed in small
room just beside her own, and communicating
with il by q door.
Miss Anderson arrived in the afternoon. Dim
ner was served at o'clock, and the evening
passed off in very agreeable manner. No
ghost stories were told, the conversation taking
an animated and merry tone. and the party did
not separate till near o'clock, $50 you see.n
marked Miss Anderson parenthetically, when
she first narrated tho history, lit is not at all
likely that could have been suffering from in
digestion" She retired to rest. the door be-
tween her bedroom and that of her maid being
wide open, and that leading to the cs.ridor
having been securely bolted. No sooner had
Miss Anderson blown out the light and laid
her head on the pillow than she she became con-
scious of q Singular and unpleasant change in
the atmosphere of the room, which became at
once intensely cold and damp and overwhelm-
iugly oppressive, to be scarcely respirable.
Il could compare it" she afterwards said ito
nothing except blanket saturated with iced
water and pressing upon my mouth and nostrils
as almost TO stop my breath She tried to
cry out, but strength and power of speech seemed
to have alike forsaken her Then she became
aware of something clutching at the bed-clothes;
strong grasp fastened at intervals on the cover
lid and blankets she had drawn over her. In
the extremity of her alarm. she contrived, by
putting forth all her strength. to raise herself
in sitting posture. supported by her
hands, and she instantly dashed
by fierce grasp fastened her neck and
shoulders During this mute and terrible strug
gle Miss Anderson could light 10 ner
maids room flashing up and going out. this pro-
cess being repeated several times. She tried in
vain to reach her own matchbox which was
tempt she finally broke loose from the hold of
her invisible persecEtor and sprang from the
bed, uttering piercing shrek. Her
maid instantly rushed into the room, ex-
claiming in terror, 20 Miss Mary, did
YOU see it7- ..See whatgn asked Miss
Anderson in renewed alarm Something
II cannot tell what-that caught mo by tho
throat and tried to choke me soon as got
into bed" On comparing their experiences. the
mistress and the maid found that they had suf-